Electric shaving appliance

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for the elimination of superfluous hair. Such appliance comprises a body having a working head including a hood which has an open work protecting member for engaging the hair inside the head. A revolving member is mounted for rotation in the hood in confronting relation to the open work member. A counter electrode is provided which is coextensive in length with the revolving member and is positioned within the hood immediately adjacent the open work member. A row of spike electrodes extends along the length of the revolving member and an electrode circuit, connected to a source of power, has a first conductor connected to the counter electrode and a second conductor connected to the spike electrodes. The spike electrodes and counter electrode are so spaced that sparks are generated therebetween when the circuit is energized.

United States Patent {72] Inventor Eugene Jim Politzer 65, rue Jouifroy,Paris, 17 'eme, France [21] Appl. No. 793,737 [22] Filed Jan. 24, 1969[45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [32] Priority Dec. 3, 1968 [33] France 311784 43 [541 ELECTRIC SHAVING APPLIANCE 14 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 219/223, 30/32,128/303.14,219/233, 219/383, H05b/7/18 [51]Int. Cl 1105b l/00, A45d 26/00 [50] Field of Search 219/232, 221, 223,383, 384, 233; 128/303.14; 30/32 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATESPATENTS 1,790,452 1/1931 Wilsey 219/384 2,707,744 5/1955 Meaker 219/3842,727,132 12/1955 l-lills 219/223 2,966,572 12/1960 Hobbs 219/2233,098,143 7/1963 Warmt 219/384 3,135,298 6/1964 Marks i. 219/384 X3,197,612 7/1965 Reich 219/223 FOREIGN PATENTS 647,310 5/1939 Germany219/384 Primary ExaminerA. Bartis Attorneys-Alvin Browdy and Browdy andNeimark ABSTRACT: An apparatus is provided for the elimination ofsuperfluous hair. Such appliance comprises a body having a working headincluding a hood which has an open work protecting member for engagingthe hair inside the head. A revolving member is mounted for rotation inthe hood in confronting relation to the open work member. A counterelectrode is provided which is coextensive in length with the revolvingmember and is positioned within the hood immediately adjacent the openwork member, A row of spike electrodes extends along the length of therevolving member and an electrode circuit, connected to a source ofpower, has a first conductor connected to the counter electrode and asecond conductor connected to the spike electrodes. The

PATENTEDUBT 19 IBYI SHEET 2 OF 4 3,614,382

PATENTEDnm 19 I9?! SHEET 30F 4 ELECTRIC SHAVING APPLIANCE Up to now, forshaving the beard, and other superfluous hair, various types of cuttingappliances have been used e.g. single blade razors, safety" razorsincorporating a thin interchangeable blade, razors comprising one ormore blades actuated with a rotation or to-and-fro movement by means ofa mechanically or electrically driven motor.

All these appliances have certain disadvantages, for example they mostfrequently necessitate the using of soap, shaving paste or other hairsoftening products. Also it is often necessary to sharpen or change thecutting blades. In certain forms of razors, the blades also have theadditional inconvenience of frequently causing cuts or more or lessserious accidents, either for the user or ill-advised persons.

Furthermore, in all cases, the blades cannot cut the hairs below theplane of the epidermis, and, accordingly, they leave part of the hairremaining in the natural cavity. This part of the hair grows quickly andbecomes more and more visible, which frequently entails the necessity ofa second shave at the end of the day.

To eliminate these drawbacks, it has been proposed to use chemicalpastes and tweezers enabling the beard and superfluous hairs to bedestroyed or pulled out, but these various techniques have given rise tomore or less well-justified objections.

The present invention obviates these disadvantages by creating a newappliance enabling beard, and other hair to be eliminated.

According to the invention these superfluous hairs are engaged in anopenwork member beyond which they are subjected to the action of sparksset up in displacement and intended to cause, by grilling, thedestruction of the hairs at their base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the appliance foroperating the process comprises a body provided with a working headcomprising a hood having at least one openwork protecting member forstraightening and engaging bristles inside the head where said bristlesare subjected to grilling by the action of thermic blades made by atleast one row of sparks produced by at least the spikes of at least onerevolving member incorporated in the working head.

Embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown in theattached drawings:

FIG. I is an elevation view of the appliance according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section, on a larger scale, takensubstantially along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial cross sections showing, on a FIG. 9 is apartial sectional view, partly cutaway, of the ap- 60 f I (FIG.

pliance according to the invention.

FIG. is a partial cross section, partly cut away, taken substantiallyalong the line X-X of FIG. 9.

FIG. I] is a perspective, partly cut away, showing a characteristicdetail of the construction of the appliance.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross section, on a larger scale, taken along theline XIIXII of FIG. 11. I

FIG. I3 is a partial perspective similar to FIG. I1, showing analternative embodiment of certain constitutive members of the appliance.

FIG. I4 is a partial section of another embodiment of the appliance.

According to the invention, the appliance comprises a body I formed bytwo shells 2 associated with a shaving head 3. The

driving device, for example, an electric motor 5. The shells 2 also holda small plate 6 provided with pins 7 for connecting an electric supplycable branched on the mains. Inside the shells, the small plate 6 isconnected to two electric conductors 8 and 9. The conductor 8 isbranched on to one of the supply terminals of the motor 5, whereas theconductor 9 is connected up to the baseplate 10 of a voltage selector 11comprising an operating member I2 accessible from outside the body 1.The baseplate 10 of the voltage selector I1 comprises a conductor 13branched on to the second supply terminal of the electric motor 5.

The cavity 4 is closed at the top by a partition 14 which forms thebottom of a housing 15 supplementarily confined by the shells 2 and by ahood 16 forming part of the shaving head 3. The shells and hood I6confine two bearings 17 for mounting the journals l8 ofa cylinder 19.One of the journals I8 is connected, by a transmission member 20traversing a slot 21 of the partition 14, to the output shaft 22 of theelectric motor 5. Opposite to the transmission member 20, the cylinder19 is in permanent contact with a sliding brush 23 carried by thepartition 14 and connected to the conductor 8. The cylinder 19 hasspikes 24, preferably radial, on the whole of its external periphery,irregularly arranged, both axially and transversally. The spikes 24, oflow height, are intended to rotate opposite the spikes 25 on a smallrigid metal bar 26 mounted level with the inner face of the hood 16. Thesmall bar 26 is preferably associated with adjusting members, (notshown), enabling the distance between the spikes 24 and 25 to bealtered. Nevertheless, such adjustment can, in certain cases, be alsoeffected by the hood 16 mounted on the shells 2 which can be verticallydisplaced when the appliance is in use. The small bar 26 is alsoconnected to an electric conductor 27 branched on to a contact plate 28carried by the hood. At least one of the shells has a contact plate 29connected to the conductor 13.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the small bar 26 extends at the level, orslightly recessed, of one of the edges of a slot or window 30 confinedby the hood 16, preferably in a plane offset in relation to the verticallongitudinal symmetry plane of the appliance. The edge of the slot 30corresponds to the small bar 26 and makes or supports a comb or grid 31extending substantially over the whole width of said slot.

When the appliance is being used, the branching of the cable on to themains enables the motor 5 to be fed and create a potential differencebetween the spikes 24 of the cylinder I9 and the spikes 25 of the smallbar 26. The alternations of the alternating current delivered by themains thus has the effect of causing sparking between the spikes 24 and25 temporarily facing each other, sparks whose frequency andconcentration are a function of the rotation speed of the cylinder 19,and of the number and arrangement of the spikes 24. By moving the comb31 against the skin in a direction opposite to the way the bristlesgrow, the teeth or roughness in the case of the grid, straighten thesebristles by ensuring their engaging in the slot 30. The straightenedbristles are thus automatically brought to the level of the spikes 24and 25 facing each other, where they are consumed by sparking. Therotation direction of the cylinder 19 is, moreover, chosen in thedirection of the arrow 2) so that the sparks produced are thrown againstthe engaging direction of the bristles in the grid or comb to behavelike thermic blades ensuring the destruction of the bristles at theirbase by grilling while simultaneously making use of the thermic andkenetic power. To avoid any risk of irritating or chafing the skin, thecomb 31 is advantageously made of an insulating material whichnevertheless may be of slight thickness, seeing that the sparks producedare initially provided to prevent any burning of the skin.

It will be understood that the electric supply circuit of the motor 5,cylinder I9 and small bar 26 can be effected for operating from a directsupply current. The circuit intended to set up a potential differencebetween the spikes 24 and 25 can then incorporate a make-and-break orother device.

FIG. 3 shows that the slot 30 of the hood 16 can also be proshells 2 aremade to confine a closed cavity 4 containing a vided on either side ofthe vertical longitudinal symmetry plane of the appliance. Suchembodiment allows the appliance to be used in both directions byalternating displacement which is naturally imparted to it during theshaving operation. To impart the same efficacity in such example ofutilization, the two longitudinal edges of the slot 30 form or supportcombs or grids 32 and 33 with overlapping and mutually opposed teeth, soas automatically to cause, and in both shaving directions, thestraightening of the bristles to be eliminated as well as their engagingin the slot 30.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the razor according to whichthe head 3 comprises a hood 34 confining two parallel housing 35 and 36for positioning two cylinders 37 and 38 similar to cylinder 19. The hood34 is then made with two parallel slots 39 and 40, provided with twocombs or grids 41 and 42 whose teeth are oriented opposite each other.It will be understood that to increase shaving efficieney, the two slots39 and 40 can also be provided each with two combs or grids made asshown with reference to FIG. 3.

Although not shown, the motor can be reversible or the transmissionmeans can be provided with a reversing device for controlling by meansof a single member outside the body 1, the rotation direction of thecylinder or cylinders with a view to helping to eliminate bristlesstarted by the corresponding grid in one of the two passage directionsof the appliance on the skin.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show another form of carrying out the invention in whichthe appliance comprises a cylinder or drum 43 incorporated in theshaving head 3 which includes a protecting hood 44, provided, forinstance, with a grid 45. The hood 44 is mounted to be adjusted on thetwo shells 2 so that during use it is possible to alter the distancebetween the periphery of the cylinder 43 and the grid 45 as well as thedistance between skin and cylinder 43. Said cylinder comprises two axialrows of spikes 46 and 47 projecting and close together on its periphery,formed by two parallel conducting small bars 48 and 49 embedded in theperipheric layer of said cylinder which is actually coated or made of aninsulating material. The bar 48 independent to the bar 49 is connectedto a ring 50 shown on one of the transversal faces of the cylinder 43.This ring 50 forms a track or peripheric runway on which a brush 51 isconstantly applied. The brush 5], for instance, mounted on the partition14 is connected to the electric conductor 8. The small bar 49 isintegral also with a ring 52 partly embedded in the cross face of thecylinder 43 opposite the ring 50. A brush 53 is permanently applied tothe ring 52 which also forms a peripheric constant track or runway. Thebrush 53 is mounted on the partition 14 for connecting to the secondconductor 13.

Although not shown, it is understood that the rings 50 and 52 can becarried by the same cross face of the cylinder 43, and in such case,said rings have different diameters for electric insulation of one fromthe other.

The potential difference between the small bars as well as the heightand spacing of the spikes 46 and 47 are chosen for producing an axialline or row of sparks on the periphery of the cylinder 43 which isrotatively driven as soon as the motor 5 is under voltage. This row ofsparks, produced constantly by the permanent contact of the brushes 51and 53 on the rings 50 and 52 is thus made, for each rotationrevolution, to pass intermittently in front of the shaving zone of thegrid 45, so as to ensure burning by grilling of sparking of bristlespreferably engaged against the grain. The rotation direction of thecylinder 43 is chosen so that the sparks strike the bristles engaged inthe grid 43 so as to combine kinetic and thermic energy with a view toincreasing shaving efficieney.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the row of sparks only comes levelwith the grid 45 for a short moment at each passage, thus preventingoverheating of the grid likely to irritate the skin.

According to the diameter and rotation speed of the cylinder 43, it maybe advantageous to provide several rows of spikes 46 and 47 angularlyequidistant, with a view appreciably to increasing passage frequencylevel with the grid 45. Likewise, the razor can have more than onecylinder or drum 43 respectively provided with one or more rows ofspikes.

FIG. 8 shows a modification according to which the cylinder 43 isreplaced by at least one revolving plate disc 54 placed under a grid 55integral with a ring 56 adjustably mounted on the body 57 of the razor.The disc 54 makes a rim 58, opposite to the grid, supporting two contactrings 59 and 60 for two brushes 61 and 62 connected to conductors 8 and13. The rings 59 and 60 are linked with at least two parallel small barsradially or diametrically placed, embedded in the disc and forming tworows of spikes 63 and 64 projecting towards the grid 55.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment in which the cross faces of the cylinderor drum 43 also comprises two other rings 70 and 71 having a smallerdiameter than that of the rings 50 and 52 for being partly embeddedcoaxially inside said rings. The ring 70 forms a track for a brush 72superimposed on the brush 51 in electric connection with the conductor8. In like manner, the ring 71 forms a track for a brush 73 carried bythe partition 14, superimposed on the brush 53, to be in electriccontact with the conductor 13. The rings 70 and 71 are joined togetherby an electric resistance 74 such as a semirigid wire of small sectionwhose terminal parts are joined to the rings 70 and 71 without contactwith the rings 50 and 52 (FIG. 11). The wire 74 extends along one of therows of spikes and can be placed parallel to the peripheric surface ofthe cylinder or drum 43, or partly embedded in a groove or cut 75 madein said peripheric surface (FIG. 12).

Putting under voltage of the conductors 8 and 13 simultaneously ensuresthe producing of sparks between the spikes 46 and 47, the passage ofsupply current in the resistance 74 through the rings 70 and 71 andcorresponding brushes 72 and 73. The section of the resistance 74 ischosen so that the passage of electric current heats and reddens thewire 74 and sets up a thermic field enabling the reinforcing andimproving of the action of the sparks which can thus be produced by apotential difference less than that normally necessary for causing thedestruction of bristles solely by thermic and kinetic energy. Thethermic actuation produced by the constant heating of the wire 74entailed in passing at the same time as the spark field enablesmaintaining, in the vicinity of the sparks, a constant thermic fieldwithout, for this, causing a burning feel ing when the grid 45 is movedagainst the skin, seeing that the intermittent passage of the resistance74 enables overheating of the grid 45 to be avoided, in particular whensaid grid is made of a metal member. It should be noticed that theresistance 74 also helps to burn the bristles engaged in the grid 45.

According to the diameter and/or rotation speed of the cylinder or drum43, it may be advantageous to provide several rows of spikes 46 and 47respectively associated with a resistance 74 with a view appreciably toincrease the passage frequency level with the grid 45. Likewise, eachrow of spikes 46 and 47 can be associated with two resistances 74arranged laterally and placed on-either side of the spikes as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, the resistances 74 being embedded or not in theperipheric surface of the cylinder or drum 43.

FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment in which the rings 70 and 71 areeach associated with a small bar 76 and 77 extending parallel to eachother without contact. The small bars 76 and 77 embedded in insulatingmaterial of which the cylinder or drum is made are obviously shaped toavoid all' contact with the rings 50 and 52. The small bars 76 and 77form connecting elements of different polarities on which are fixedsections 78 independent from each other and fed in parallel fromconnections 79 and 80 embedded in the cylinder or drum 43 only leavingon the peripheral surface of said cylinder or drum, the wire sections 78forming independent resistances. In the example shown, the resistancesections 78 are arranged in the extension of each other along a lineparallel to the rows of spikes 46 and 47 but it is quite obvious that incertain cases the resistance sections 78 situated towards the terminalparts of cylinder or drum 43, could be placed with a different spacing.

The arrangement according to FIG. 13, allows a discontinuous activationthermic field to be set up which could eventually be completed by acontinuous activation thermic field provided on the other side of therows of spikes 46 and 47, as shown by wire 74 in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the appliance according to which thecylinder or drum 43 is replaced by a disc or revolving plate 81 placedunder a grid 82 integral with a ring 83 adjustably mounted on a tubularbody 84. The disc or plate 81 comprises, opposite the grid 82, anannular rim 85 carrying level with its lower periphery two contact rings86 and 87 for two brushes 88 and 89 connected to the conductors 8 and13. The rings 86 and 87 are in connection with two radially placedparallel small bars or diametral, forming two rows of spikes 80 and 91projecting towards the grid 82. The rim 85 of the disc or plate 81 alsocomprises level with its external periphery, two rings 92 and 93respectively in contact with two brushes 94 and 95 also branched on theconductors 8 and 13. The rings 92 and'93 are connected with at least oneelectric resistance 96 extending parallel to the row of spikes 90 and 91for producing, parallel to said spikes, an activation thermic fieldwhich can be continuous or discontinuous.

I claim:

1. An appliance for eliminating superfluous hair comprising a bodyprovided with a working head including a hood having at least oneopenwork protecting member for straightening and engaging hair bristlesinside the head;

a revolving member mounted for rotation in the hood in confrontingrelation to the openwork member;

means for causing the revolving member to be revolved;

a counter electrode coextensive in length with the length of therevolving member and positioned within the hood immediately adjacent tothe openwork member;

at least one row of spike electrodes extending along the length of therevolving member;

an electrode circuit including a first conductor electrically connectedto the counter electrode and a second conductor electrically connectedto the spike electrodes;

means for connecting the electrode circuit to a source of power; and

the spike electrodes and counter electrode being spaced such a distancethat sparks are generated therebetween when the circuit is energized.

2. Appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the row ofsparks is produced between spikes fixed on a conducting small barforming said counter electrode for the revolving member, said bar beingintegral with the inner face of the hood and said spike electrodes areprovided on the periphery of the revolving member and are made ofconducting material.

3. Appliance according to claim 2 wherein the small bar is connected toan electric conductor carried by the hood of the appliance, the electricconductor being connected to a contact plate cooperating with acomplimentary plate carried by said body and to which the secondconductor of said electrode circuit is connected.

4. The appliance according to claim 1 wherein said revolving member isconductive and said electrode circuit includes two conductors, of whichone terminates at a brush permanently held against the conductiverevolving member and of which the other is connected to said counterelectrode, said counter electrode comprising a small conductive barintegral with the hood.

5. Appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the revolvingmember is a cylinder having said spike electrodes formed as projectingspikes on its external peripheral face, said spikes extending radiallyand being placed in irregular arrangement.

6. Appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the revolvingmember is a disc, one of the faces of which has spikes projectingtowards the openwork member to form said spike electrodes.

7. Appliance according to claim 1 wherein the counter electrode andspike electrodes are formed by two small conducting bars parallel andinsulated from each other, positioned along the length of the revolvingmember and connected to two circular contact runways carried by saidrevolving member, said runways cooperating with two brushes connectedrespectively to the first and second conductors of said electrodecircuit.

8. Appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the revolvingmember also supports, in a plane parallel appreciably to the spikes, atleast one electrical resistance for producing an activation thermicfield producing the action of thermic blades, and means are provided forenergizing the resistance.

9. Appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the resistanceproducing the thermic field of activation is a thin section wireextending outside the surface of the revolving member and parallel tothe row of spike electrodes producing sparks, said energizing meanscomprising two independent mutually insulated rings on said revolvingmember on which brushes connected to the electrode circuit are applied.

10. Appliance according to claim 1 characterized in that the revolvingmember includes electrical thermic activation resistances placed oneither side of said row of spike electrodes and means for energizing theresistances are provided.

11. Appliance according to claim 10, characterized in that one of thethermic activation resistances comprises independent wire sectionsconnected in parallel for producing a discontinuous activation thermicfield.

l2. Appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that the wiresections are connected to two small independent bars embedded in therevolving member.

13. Appliance according to claim 1 characterized in that each row ofspike electrodes is associated with two lateral electrical resistancesof which one is a continuous wire, while the other comprises sections ofindependent wire and means are provided for energizing the resistancesto produce a thermic field.

14. The appliance as set forth in claim 1 further including means forproducing a thermic activation field in the vicinity of the sparks forimproving the action of the sparks.

1. An appliance for eliminating superfluous hair comprising a bodyprovided with a working head including a hood having at least oneopenwork protecting member for straightening and engaging hair bristlesinside the head; a revolving member mounted for rotation in the hood inconfrontIng relation to the openwork member; means for causing therevolving member to be revolved; a counter electrode coextensive inlength with the length of the revolving member and positioned within thehood immediately adjacent to the openwork member; at least one row ofspike electrodes extending along the length of the revolving member; anelectrode circuit including a first conductor electrically connected tothe counter electrode and a second conductor electrically connected tothe spike electrodes; means for connecting the electrode circuit to asource of power; and the spike electrodes and counter electrode beingspaced such a distance that sparks are generated therebetween when thecircuit is energized.
 2. Appliance according to claim 1, characterizedin that the row of sparks is produced between spikes fixed on aconducting small bar forming said counter electrode for the revolvingmember, said bar being integral with the inner face of the hood and saidspike electrodes are provided on the periphery of the revolving memberand are made of conducting material.
 3. Appliance according to claim 2wherein the small bar is connected to an electric conductor carried bythe hood of the appliance, the electric conductor being connected to acontact plate cooperating with a complimentary plate carried by saidbody and to which the second conductor of said electrode circuit isconnected.
 4. The appliance according to claim 1 wherein said revolvingmember is conductive and said electrode circuit includes two conductors,of which one terminates at a brush permanently held against theconductive revolving member and of which the other is connected to saidcounter electrode, said counter electrode comprising a small conductivebar integral with the hood.
 5. Appliance according to claim 1,characterized in that the revolving member is a cylinder having saidspike electrodes formed as projecting spikes on its external peripheralface, said spikes extending radially and being placed in irregulararrangement.
 6. Appliance according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe revolving member is a disc, one of the faces of which has spikesprojecting towards the openwork member to form said spike electrodes. 7.Appliance according to claim 1 wherein the counter electrode and spikeelectrodes are formed by two small conducting bars parallel andinsulated from each other, positioned along the length of the revolvingmember and connected to two circular contact runways carried by saidrevolving member, said runways cooperating with two brushes connectedrespectively to the first and second conductors of said electrodecircuit.
 8. Appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that therevolving member also supports, in a plane parallel appreciably to thespikes, at least one electrical resistance for producing an activationthermic field producing the action of thermic blades, and means areprovided for energizing the resistance.
 9. Appliance according to claim8, characterized in that the resistance producing the thermic field ofactivation is a thin section wire extending outside the surface of therevolving member and parallel to the row of spike electrodes producingsparks, said energizing means comprising two independent mutuallyinsulated rings on said revolving member on which brushes connected tothe electrode circuit are applied.
 10. Appliance according to claim 1characterized in that the revolving member includes electrical thermicactivation resistances placed on either side of said row of spikeelectrodes and means for energizing the resistances are provided. 11.Appliance according to claim 10, characterized in that one of thethermic activation resistances comprises independent wire sectionsconnected in parallel for producing a discontinuous activation thermicfield.
 12. Appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that thewire sections are connected to two small independent bars embedded inthe revolving member.
 13. Appliance according to claim 1 characterizedin that each row of spike electrodes is associated with two lateralelectrical resistances of which one is a continuous wire, while theother comprises sections of independent wire and means are provided forenergizing the resistances to produce a thermic field.
 14. The applianceas set forth in claim 1 further including means for producing a thermicactivation field in the vicinity of the sparks for improving the actionof the sparks.